Who knew that cruising to Hawks Cay on Duck Key in the middle of July could be so much fun? I did! As an avid boater with a passion for all things related to water and the Florida Keys, I eagerly accepted an invitation by Pursuit Boats to attend and represent Marinalife at their annual Read More
Experience Old Florida Charm
The gentle bend in the coastline between Panama City and the Apalachicola River is not merely geographic — it’s also a time arc back to a slower, gentler pace of days long gone. Genteel beach communities with the grace of Old Florida line the shoreline, each exhibiting its own distinct personality. Starting Point: Panama City Read More
Explore a Stunning Barrier Island in the Gulf
SOUTH OF CORPUS CHRISTI, far from endless flatlands and rambling cattle ranches, are small waterfront communities important to Texas history, its seafood industry and the preservation of nature’s most amazing creations. This quiet little slice is notable for unspoiled landscapes, abundant fishing and seafood epitomizing the word fresh. DAY 1: PORT MANSFIELD Port Mansfield went Read More
Cruising the Caribbean’s Garden of Eden
Paying $1,000 to get into a country to experience both a volcanic eruption and a Category 1 hurricane might not be anyone’s idea of the perfect holiday, but that’s exactly what we got during our time in the Grenadines. Include a whale hunt and a broken foot, and the list of our experiences is complete. Read More
Transitioning to Life Afloat
A double whammy. That’s how I’d describe taking on the cruising life a second time around. As if moving from a sailboat to a powerboat, from two hulls to one, and swapping coasts wasn’t change enough, we are also downshifting into retirement mode. Even after a decade of cruising with our two young daughters, I Read More
The Hudson River Valley
My family and I completed the Great Loop in October 2017. After returning to our land home, we all missed the water terribly, as well as the life it afforded us. So, we knew we had big decisions to make. After my husband Ben reinvented his career to focus on marine electronics, we moved back Read More
Part 3: Countdown to the Olympics
We’re only days away from this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, scheduled to begin on Friday, July 23, 2021. You might be wondering just what Olympians LTJG Nikole ‘Nikki’ Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss are doing and thinking right about now. The truth is, we were so curious, we asked them! What we found out Read More
Glamping with the Gals on Little Hog Island
Photos by Basha Burwell and Joy McPeters The backseat of Jen’s 1976 Cadillac convertible was piled high with gear and supplies. The three of us — my college roommate Jen, her 12-year-old daughter Estelle and I — climbed into the front seat, because the rest of the car was crammed full of coolers, gear, beach towels, Read More
Part 2: The Making of an Olympian
The days are moving quickly as we approach this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, scheduled to begin on Friday, July 23, 2021. With just weeks to go, there’s no doubt that LTJG Nikole ‘Nikki’ Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss are prepared to sail into history, Olympic medals glistening in the sun. And when the day Read More
Lake Champlain – A Mystery
In 2015, one chapter of our life closed, and a new chapter opened for my wife Claudia and me. We sold our home, changed course and went “all in” by moving aboard our new-to-us 1981, 43-foot Viking aft cabin cruiser. Thus, began a grand adventure as full-time cruisers exploring our country from the perspective of Read More